A fire truck valued at one million dollars was destroyed in a large fire that broke out early Sunday morning at a townhouse project under construction in Vaughan.

Grant Moffat, Vice President of Vaughan Fire, told reporters at the scene that the crews had prepared an aerial firefighting vehicle, but it caught fire and the firefighters operating that truck were unable to turn it back in time as the aerial ladder was activated.

The fire, which was declared shortly after firefighters arrived at the scene, broke out shortly after 4 a.m. in the area of Rutherford Road and Highway 27.

Moffat said the wind was a problem for the crews because it caused the fire to spread quickly to many nearby unoccupied homes, with nearly 35 unoccupied homes at various stages of construction being ignited.

Vaughan Fire also reported explosions "possibly caused by propane gas cylinders on site."

In total, 13 or 14 fire apparatus were deployed along with just under 60 firefighters from day and night shifts to combat this fire.

Moffat also said that as of 10 a.m., most of the fires had been extinguished, but the original unit where the fire started is still considered an active fire along with five or six other residences in the same complex.

Injuries have been reported.

A small number of occupied homes adjacent to the construction site were also evacuated as a precaution, with York Region transit buses at the scene to shelter those displaced, who are expected to be allowed to return to their homes sometime this morning.

Rutherford Road remains closed at this time.

In the same context, the Fire Marshal’s office will now work alongside fire investigators with the York Regional Police to determine the origin, circumstances, and cause of this fire.